FFPE Nucleic Acid Isolation via Optimized Lysis Buffer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for isolating nucleic acid from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues face challenges such as DNA fragmentation and entanglement with proteins, leading to reduced yield and purity, which hinders molecular-level analysis in clinical applications.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of a lysis buffer containing sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with magnetic beads to effectively capture and isolate nucleic acids from FFPE tissue fragments, optimizing the buffer composition to enhance yield and purity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional chromatography methods are used to isolate nucleic acid from FFPE tissue, then the isolation process can be performed, but the nucleic acid is broken down into small fragments and entangled with protein, resulting in reduced yield and purity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenucleic acid qualityVSAvoidisolation yield
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the lysis buffer by adding specific concentrations of sodium chloride (150-500 mM) and polyethylene glycol (20-40% w/v). These parameter changes alter the solution properties to prevent nucleic acid fragmentation and protein entanglement, thereby improving both quality and yield simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite lysis buffer system combining multiple components (sodium chloride, polyethylene glycol, and other buffering agents) that work synergistically. This composite approach creates an optimized environment that maintains nucleic acid integrity while enhancing recovery yield, resolving the contradiction between quality and productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional lysis buffers are used without optimization, then the isolation procedure is simple, but the nucleic acid concentration and purity are not optimized for clinical application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenucleic acid purityVSAvoidbuffer composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically optimizes buffer parameters including sodium chloride concentration (150-500 mM) and polyethylene glycol concentration (20-40% w/v). These controlled parameter changes improve nucleic acid purity while maintaining reasonable procedural simplicity, balancing reliability with ease of implementation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If existing isolation methods are used on aged FFPE samples, then the samples can be processed, but the DNA fragmentation and protein entanglement increase, leading to poor genotyping results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesample type rangeVSAvoidgenotyping quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The optimized lysis buffer with specific sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol concentrations addresses the unique challenges of aged FFPE samples. These parameter adjustments prevent fragmentation and entanglement even in degraded samples, enabling successful genotyping across a broader range of sample types while maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Polyethylene glycol acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the nucleic acid and protein components in aged samples. It prevents unwanted interactions and fragmentation, serving as a protective agent that maintains nucleic acid integrity throughout the isolation process from difficult samples

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables high-yield isolation of nucleic acid from FFPE tissues, including aged samples, with improved reproducibility and quality, as demonstrated by increased DNA recovery and clear genotyping patterns compared to existing methods.

Implementation Method 1

a method for obtaining a nucleic acid from magnetic beads to which the nucleic acid is bound, by adding a solution including a salt and PEG, and magnetic beads to the sample

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic separation: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

by adding a solution including a salt and PEG, and magnetic beads to the sample

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPEG precipitation: Precipitation

Data Source

PatentEP3269813B1A method for isolating a nucleic acid from an FFPE tissue
Publication Date: 2023.05.24 THE ASAN FOUND
  • EP3269813B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3269813B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3269813B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for isolating a nucleic acid from a sample comprising a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue fragment, a kit for isolating the nucleic acid, and a lysis buffer for the same.